Capreomycin
About Capreomycin
Capreomycin is an injectable antibiotic used with other medicines to treat active tuberculosis (TB), particularly when the infection is resistant to other treatments or when more suitable medicines cannot be used. It contains capreomycin, which acts against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB. Capreomycin must always be used as part of a combination treatment regimen and should not be used alone because the bacteria may become resistant to it.
Capreomycin is given by injection into a muscle or, in some settings, into a vein by a trained healthcare professional. The dose, frequency, and duration of treatment depend on your body weight, kidney function, treatment response, and the susceptibility of the TB bacteria. It is important to receive every scheduled dose and complete the treatment plan prescribed by your healthcare team. Missing doses or stopping treatment early may make TB more difficult to treat and increase the risk of further drug resistance.
Common side effects may include pain, swelling, or a hard area at the injection site. Capreomycin can also affect the kidneys, hearing, balance, and levels of certain minerals in the blood. Your doctor will arrange regular kidney function tests, hearing tests, and blood tests to monitor potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other mineral levels during treatment.
Contact your doctor promptly if you develop ringing in the ears, reduced hearing, a feeling that the room is spinning, loss of balance, reduced urination, swelling of the hands or feet, unusual weakness, muscle cramps, tingling, or an irregular heartbeat. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Before receiving Capreomycin, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, hearing or balance problems, dehydration, muscle weakness, or low levels of potassium, magnesium, or calcium in the blood. Also tell your doctor about all medicines you take, particularly medicines that may affect the kidneys, hearing, balance, or muscles. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, breastfeeding, an older adult, or considering this medicine for a child, consult your doctor before treatment. Your healthcare team will assess the expected benefits and potential risks and determine the most appropriate treatment and monitoring plan.
Uses of Capreomycin
Medicinal Benefits
Capreomycin helps treat active drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) when used with other anti-tuberculosis medicines. Its main benefits include:
- Helps control drug-resistant TB: Acts against tuberculosis bacteria that are resistant to certain other anti-tuberculosis medicines or when more suitable treatments cannot be used.
- Supports effective combination treatment: Works with other anti-tuberculosis medicines to reduce the number of TB bacteria and help control the infection.
- Helps prevent further drug resistance: Using Capreomycin as part of an appropriate combination treatment regimen reduces the risk of the bacteria becoming resistant to additional medicines.
- Supports recovery from active TB: Effective treatment helps improve symptoms and reduce complications associated with active TB. The response to treatment depends on the susceptibility of the bacteria, the complete treatment regimen, and consistent adherence.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safety.
- Capreomycin will be administered by the doctor or healthcare professional.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Capreomycin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
- Mild skin rash or itching
- Feeling unusually tired or weak
- Headache
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away):
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or hearing loss
- Severe dizziness, spinning sensation, or loss of balance
- Unusually low urine output or swelling in your legs and feet (signs of kidney damage)
- Muscle weakness, cramping, or irregular heartbeats (signs of low blood potassium or magnesium)
- Difficulty breathing, severe hives, or swelling of the face, lips, or throat (signs of an allergic reaction)
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Complete the full treatment regimen: Receive Capreomycin and take all other anti-tuberculosis medicines exactly as prescribed, even if you start to feel better. Do not miss doses or stop treatment without consulting your doctor.
- Attend all monitoring appointments: Regular kidney function tests, hearing tests, and blood tests are important during treatment. These tests help detect changes in kidney function, hearing, and blood mineral levels before serious symptoms develop.
- Report hearing or balance changes promptly: Contact your doctor immediately if you develop ringing in the ears, reduced hearing, severe dizziness, a spinning sensation, or problems with balance.
- Watch for signs of kidney problems: Tell your doctor promptly if you pass less urine than usual or develop swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet, unusual tiredness, nausea, or shortness of breath.
- Report symptoms of mineral imbalance: Contact your doctor if you develop muscle weakness, cramps, tingling, numbness, unusual tiredness, or a fast or irregular heartbeat. These may be signs of low potassium, magnesium, or calcium levels.
- Tell your doctor about all medicines: Inform your doctor about all prescription medicines, non-prescription medicines, herbal products, and supplements you use, particularly medicines that may affect the kidneys, hearing, balance, or muscles.
- Seek help for breathing or muscle weakness: Seek immediate medical attention if you develop severe muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing, as Capreomycin may worsen muscle weakness or affect breathing in rare cases.
Drug Interactions
- Other medicines that may affect the kidneys or hearing: Certain antibiotics, including aminoglycosides such as amikacin, gentamicin, or streptomycin, may increase the risk of kidney damage, hearing loss, or balance problems when used with Capreomycin. Your doctor will determine whether these medicines can be used together and arrange close monitoring if necessary.
- Certain injectable antibiotics: Medicines such as polymyxins may increase the risk of kidney damage and may also affect muscle and nerve function. Combined use requires careful medical assessment and monitoring.
- Strong water tablets (loop diuretics): Medicines such as furosemide may increase the risk of hearing or kidney problems. Your doctor may avoid the combination or monitor you more closely.
- Medicines that relax muscles: Neuromuscular blocking medicines used during surgery or certain medical procedures may have a stronger or longer-lasting effect when used with Capreomycin. This may cause severe muscle weakness or breathing difficulties. Tell your surgeon and anaesthetist that you are receiving Capreomycin before any procedure.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Capreomycin to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionIt is unknown whether Capreomycin can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproductive capacity. Capreomycin should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed. Please consult your doctor. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing them.
Breast Feeding
cautionInform your doctor if you are a nursing mother before taking Capreomycin; your doctor will decide whether Capreomycin can be taken by breastfeeding mothers.
Driving
unsafeCapreomycin may cause vertigo (a sensation of feeling off-balance). Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience these symptoms.
Liver
cautionLimited information on using Capreomycin in patients with liver diseases/conditions is available. Please consult your doctor. Regular monitoring of liver function tests may be advised in patients with liver disease.
Kidney
cautionCapreomycin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor. Please consult your doctor.
Children
unsafeCapreomycin can’t use in children as there is no safety and effectiveness in paediatric patients have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet: Include adequate protein, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-rich foods to support your strength and recovery during TB treatment. Ask your healthcare team for dietary advice if you have poor appetite or unintentional weight loss.
- Stay adequately hydrated: Drink enough fluids unless your doctor has advised you to restrict your fluid intake. Dehydration may increase the risk of kidney problems during treatment.
- Avoid alcohol: Alcohol may place additional strain on the liver and may interact with other medicines in your TB treatment regimen. Ask your doctor whether you should avoid alcohol completely during treatment.
- Do not smoke: Smoking can further damage the lungs and may slow recovery from TB. Ask your healthcare team for support if you need help to stop smoking.
- Attend all treatment appointments: Receive every injection and take all other anti-tuberculosis medicines exactly as prescribed. Missing doses or stopping treatment early may reduce treatment effectiveness and increase the risk of further drug resistance.
- Follow infection-control advice: Follow your healthcare team's instructions about ventilation, respiratory hygiene, wearing a mask, and limiting close contact with others until you are advised that you are no longer infectious.
Special Advise
Regularly monitor your blood tests to monitor your liver function, electrolyte levels, and blood cell count in your blood.
Capreomycin should be taken under strict medical supervision. The doctor will regularly monitor your condition while taking Capreomycin.
Consult a doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection, fever, urticaria, maculopapular skin rashes, etc.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Tuberculosis (TB): Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that affects the lungs, but it can also spread to other body parts such as kidneys, brain, spine and bone marrow. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacteria named Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a contagious disease that can spread to others through small droplets released into the air by a person suffering from tuberculosis. Symptoms include a cough that lasts for a few weeks, pain while coughing or normal breathing, unexplained fatigue, fever, night sweats, and loss of appetite and weight. People who smoke or consume alcohol, people diagnosed with HIV, and immune system problems are more likely at risk of developing active TB.
FAQs
Capreomycin is used to treat tuberculosis (TB).
Capreomycin is an antibiotic. It stops bacterial growth by preventing the synthesis of essential proteins required by bacteria to carry out vital functions.
Do not stop taking Capreomycin despite symptomatic relief. Treat your condition effectually. Continue taking Capreomycin for as long as it has been prescribed.
Drug-resistant TB means bacteria become resistant to the drugs used to treat TB. This means that the drug can no longer kill the TB bacteria.
Capreomycin belongs to a class of drugs known as aminoglycoside antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection that usually attacks your lungs. It can also spread to other parts of your body, like your brain and spine. A type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes it.
Capreomycin belongs to the group of medicines called anti-tubercular agents. It is used in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).
People who are allergic to any of the components in Capreomycin should not be treated with this medicine.
Before starting treatment with Capreomycin, let the doctor know if you have any other health conditions or if you are taking any other medications. Get regular blood tests, hearing tests done and discuss any concerns with your doctor. Use Capreomycin only as prescribed and be cautious if you're 65 or older. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor.
Capreomycin will be administered intramuscularly/intravenously by a doctor. Please do not self-administer.
Since Capreomycin is administered by the doctor, it is unlikely to exceed the recommended dose. However, consult the doctor if you think there has been an overdose.
Consult the doctor if your condition does not improve even after using Capreomycin for the prescribed duration. The doctor will assess your condition and may adjust your treatment or order more tests.
Capreomycin may cause side effects like hearing or balance problems, changes in blood cells, easy bruising or infections, rash or itching, pain or bleeding at the injection site, and fever. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Capreomycin is given as an injection, either into a large muscle or slowly into a vein. This is typically done by a trained healthcare professional in a medical clinic or hospital. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your administration schedule.
Yes, but only if your healthcare provider has trained you or a caregiver on how to safely prepare and inject the medicine. You must follow sterile techniques and know how to dispose of needles safely. Talk to your doctor to see if home administration is a safe option for you.
If you experience ringing in your ears, hearing changes, or dizziness, contact your healthcare provider immediately. These can be early signs of inner ear damage, and your doctor may need to adjust your treatment plan. Talk to your doctor as soon as you notice any changes.
Your doctor will order regular blood tests to monitor your kidney health and check your levels of essential minerals like potassium and magnesium. This helps ensure the medicine is clearing from your body safely. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your testing schedule.
No, you must complete the entire course of treatment prescribed by your doctor, even if you feel better. Stopping early can cause the tuberculosis infection to return and become harder to treat. Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your therapy.
Capreomycin is generally not recommended during pregnancy unless your doctor decides the benefits outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. It can potentially cause hearing issues in the developing baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
It is highly recommended to avoid alcohol during your treatment. Alcohol can stress your organs, dehydrate you, and make it more difficult for your body to fight the tuberculosis infection. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for personalised guidance.
Mild pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site is common. You can help reduce this by rotating your injection sites for each dose and applying a warm compress if approved by your provider. Talk to your doctor if the pain becomes severe, warm to the touch, or shows signs of infection.
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